Floor covering



1930. I R. D. BONNEY ET AL I 1,784,310

FLOOR COVERING Filed Oct. 8. 1928 INVENTOIiS ROBERT D. Bo/v/vm W/LL/AM Y. lRW/N JR.

hwwdw A TTORNE Y Patented Dec. 16, 193% UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT D. BONNEY, OF GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, AND WILLIAM Y. JR, 0]?! MOOBES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO CONGOLEUH-NAIBN, INC., A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK FLOOR COVERING Application filed October 8, 1928. Serial 110.3109".

Our invention relates to the manufacture of floor coverings of the hard-surfaced type, and (particularly to floor coverings having a ho mented wearing surface and a suitable facing on the back.

The present practice in themanufactur'e of floor coverings of this type is to coat the back of the asphalt saturated felt with a thin coat of a suitable paint, one function of which is to cover the plain and unsightly black felt, thereby improving the appearance to some extent.

It is the object of our invention to rovide an entirely novel backing coat for oor coverings of the t pe described, which coating comprises a lilm or la er of powdered mineral matter having hig light-reflecting properties, such as metallic powder, finelydivided mica or similar flaky mineral, or a mixture thereof, adhesively secured to the- .will illustrate a preferred embodiment, such disclosure is to be regarded only by way of example. As a typical method of carrying out our invention, we may apply to the asphalt saturated felt base, when the saturant as set, an adhesive coating, preferably of quick-hardening properties and of a relatively thin body so as not to interfere with the flexibility of the final product. Likewise, the bcnding material is preferably colored or pigmented. Of the substances which have been employed, we may refer to varnishes with quick driers, havin waterproof character, quick-drying oils and paints, etc. To the adhesive coating. while wet. we apply by dusting thereon, a thin film of particles of powdered mineral material such as metallic powder or a flaky mineral, as for example, vermiculite or finely-divided mica. Preferably, however, the film comprises a mixture of the flaky mineral and metallic powder-an analysis of a typical mixture being as follows: one part bronze powder, one part finely-divided vermiculite. In the coating thus formed, the particles of mineral y of asphalt saturated felt with a pigmatter exist in the discrete phase and, therefore, exhibit to the fullest extent their lightreflecting (properties, and also permit the col-. t

ored bon visible.

The asphalt saturated felt thus coated may be employed directly for the production of printed floor covering, but it is referable, after the film of metallic pow er and/or finely-divided mica has been fixed by the setting of the adhesive, to roll, brush, or calender the same to a relatively 'smooth surface.

In a floor covering, the effect of a film or layer of mineral matter is of value from a number of points of view. In the first place, the adhesive layerjmparts additional strength to the asphalt saturated felt, making the same more resistant to tear. Secondly,

ng medium to remain partially imparts a non-slip quality to the rug or other type of floor covering. Thirdly, from the artistic viewpoint, the film of mineral particles, in combination with the partially visible colored or pigmented bonding material, provides a novel and rich-looking piece of merchandise, a feature heretofore absent by reason of the somewhat cheap-appearing paint backing coat. Furthermore, from the point of View of utility, the novel coating serves to completely conceal the black asphalt saturated felt and to prevent the saturant from exuding and" sticking to or staining the floor or the face of the goods while rolled.

The drawing is a sectional pers ective view on an enlarged scale, of a piece 0 floor covering embodying our invention. Numeral 1 indicates the asphalt saturated felt body, to which is applied a wearing surface of paint 2. The back of the felt is coated with the thin layer of pigmented adhesive 3, which serves to bond the film 4 of powdered mineral matter in the manner above described.

While we have described a preferred embodiment of our invention, and the manner of carrying out the same, it is to be understood the mixture doctored or sprayed onto the asphalt saturated felt body.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

5 As a new article of manufacture, a floor covering comprising a body of felt saturated with waterproofing material; a facing coat of paint applied to one side thereof and forming a wearing surface; and a backing coat on the an opposite side; said backin coat comprising a thin film of discrete particles of a metallic powder and a flaky mineral substance, and a pigmented bonding medium adhesively securing said film to said body and partially 15 visible through said film.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures.

WILLIAM Y. IRWIN JR. ROBERT D. BONNEY. 

